DEDICATED in memory of Bill’s parents, Bill and Bonnie Clifton;

in honor of Merilee’s parents, Leland and Frances Lastinger;

and to all Christian parents who embrace the challenge
to bring up their children in the nurture and admonition of the Lord.

First printing: April 2009 Before the Aquarium

6 . . . . . . . . . . » How to Use Your Complete Aquarium Curriculum
Copyright © 2009 by Bill and Merilee Clifton. All rights reserved. No part of this book may 9 . . . . . . . . . . » Chart Your Course
be used or reproduced in any manner whatsoever without written permission of the publisher 10 . . . . . . . . . . » Weigh Anchor
except in the case of brief quotations in articles and reviews. For information, write: 11 . . . . . . . . . . » Aquarium Adventure Manifest
Master Books®, P.O. Box 726, Green Forest, AR 72638. 12 . . . . . . . . . . » Devotionals 1–7 & Exploring the Depths 1–7
26 . . . . . . . . . . » Scripture Memory Texts
ISBN-13: 978-0-89051-554-9
ISBN-10: 0-89051-554-9 . At the Aquarium
Library of Congress Number: 2007925412 30 . . . . . . . . . . » All Hands on Deck
31 . . . . . . . . . . » Crew Assignments
Unless otherwise noted, all Scripture is from the King James Version of the Bible. 32 . . . . . . . . . . » Know the Ropes for Visiting the Aquarium
34 . . . . . . . . . . » Prayer
Cover design by Diana Bogardus. See the Sea Creatures
Interior design by Jennifer Bauer. 35 . . . . . . . . . . » Birds
43 . . . . . . . . . . » Fish: Bony
Printed in China. 59 . . . . . . . . . . » Fish: Cartilaginous
69 . . . . . . . . . . » Invertebrates
Please visit our website for other great titles: www.masterbooks.net. 85 . . . . . . . . . . » Mammals
103 . . . . . . . . . . » Reptiles
For information regarding author interviews, please contact the publicity department at (870) 438-5288. 112 . . . . . . . . . . » All Ashore

After the Aquarium

113 . . . . . . . . . . » Activities Preview

®
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Appendix le t e A q uarium arium or simila nter, coastal is
149 . . . . . . . . . . Aquarium Glossary
p
The Com trips to an aq
u
r in e science
ce
t r ip in a book” tian
a ld hris sed
153 . . . . . . . . . . Solutions to Activities guide fo
r field
r in e - li f e park, m each. This “fie o o le r s , and C it c a n a lso be u
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ium, ma even a homesc ting. However,
154 . . . . . . . . . . Aquarium Animal Observation Sheets oceanar dlife refuge, or idual families, set ate the
a rk o r wil d b y in div a n a q uarium t. ld is t o investig
156 . . . . . . . . . . Sample Registration Form p e t o n r or
s ig n e d to be us o n a fi eld trip om environme o d ’s c re ated wo n a l r e source f
157 . . . . . . . . . . About the Authors de ing sro udy G ormat io ional,
roups go in a clas ges to st nly have an inf duct an educat
school g ntly at home or d ents o f a ll a
n ot o d con s . We ha
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inde ways f to help ally p and p e our
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Included in your We h their in then follow u field t orldvie
oceans. e o c eans and , a n d a r in e - oriented a C h ristian w
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Tool Kit studying rip to an aquar nd conducting is presented fro ays. realm
ll e d t n in g a b o o k e r a l d h ’s greatest r
fun-fi s p la n in t h is s ix li t g e a r t ate
(envelope of fun in the back of the book!)
p e n t m any year ou. Everything a ll li f e forms in d w h e n studyin reat plan for w w 5
s y nd ive min od’s g ter, ho
» 31 Animal Fact Cards ces with iverse, a inquisit iscover G and around wa reation
experien e earth, the un t o t h e w il l d
» 7 Ocean Zone Cards
creating
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» 3 Aquarium Animal Alphabet Cards
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S ES
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EA found along the Atlantic coast of

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U RES the United States and as far south
EA S E E THE
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RES as Brazil. They also live in the Gulf
of Mexico and the Caribbean,
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and their range can carry them
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United States down to Ecuador.

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S E ES inhabit the coastal shallows and
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A reefs searching for small fish, shrimp,

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#20 and octopi.
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A What intrigues people about the bonnethead shark is the shape of its
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# 19 head. Even the greatest skeptic has to wonder how on earth time and chance would produce
S E E THE
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60 # 18 A
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such an odd shape. But the shape works well for this shark. Its eyes are located at opposite ends of its flattened 61
head, giving it extra wide vision. Sharks have nostrils that give them an acute sense of smell. Also on the head between
#17 UR

E
S E E TH
A the eyes are hundreds of tiny holes called ampullae of Lorenzini, which house nerve endings sensitive to electrical fields.

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UR These highly specialized electroreceptors can detect electromagnetic fields given off by potential prey. They can even

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EA

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#28
S ES detect food sources hidden under the sand and out of sight! Now we all know how complex electricity is, and few people
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really understand how it works. But here is an animal that uses electromagnetism to detect its food. How can something
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EA
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#27
S
U RES like that evolve over millions of years? Is that not the direct result of intelligent design? How could it be anything else?
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S E ES Order: Carcharhiniformes Another incredible design feature of the bonnethead shark is its lack of a swim bladder. As stated earlier, this lack
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is characteristic of all cartilaginous fish. The swim bladder in bony fish inflates with air and helps the fish maintain its
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Family: Sphyrnidae
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# 25 A
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horizontal position in the water column. So how does the shark keep from sinking? It uses two methods to maintain
Genus: Sphyrna its horizontal position: it has a large liver containing oil, which is lighter than water. This enlarged liver helps sharks to
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Species: S ERtiburo

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“hammerhead” family of sharks, this ES
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cartilaginous fish is often exhibited in marine A

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aquariums. Its incredibleA and unmistakable U R #35 planes” at the front of the ship to control their diving depth. The
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shark provided a good model for this.

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shape makes it a favorite S E of visitors. Its unique
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Adesign, especially when viewed next to other sharks,

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33
S ES in the aquarium and be reminded
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of the intricate designs the Creator

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32
revealed by its Maker.
#
The hammerhead shark family is instantly recognized by the
has established in the countless
numbers of organisms on display.
31
# wide, flattened head of the sharks. Bonnetheads do not grow as
large as some of the others in this family, normally reaching a
length of about five feet and weighing nearly 25 pounds. They are